Hello. Greetings. Hi. How's it going? What's going on dude? What up nigga?
Huh? Come again?
Yeah, that's right, "What up nigga?"
That statement alone has caused you, the reader, into a social shift into acceptance, defiance, a feeling of uncomfortableness, and other mixed bags of emotions. Nonetheless, whatever it may be, that very word, whether used in a greeting, statement or salutation, causes an uneasiness in relationships, and social well-being.
However, it is a word that is used commonly in today's society. It's a word similar to the racial slur and hateful word of "nigger" which is used amongst friends, family, and confidants. It is practiced amongst many, as it is part of the hip-culture which embodies what America is today. It's use, as common as "dude, and "son" leaves the mouths of many youth today. Afterall, it's a universal term right?
Wrong.
It seems the word has taken on a meaning that is exclusively for minorities, specifically, the African-American race. Whites are subjected to not using it due to fear of response from these groups, or that it's suffix of "a" may be misinterpreted for the eye brow raising "er".
Before reading any further, take a look at a video about a misinterpretation of the "N" word and how a simple suffix can seperate its meanings.
Here it is...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-gIErIg5kI
After watching the clip once, I thought...
Would a white person dare use the supposed "social friendly" term? They are indeed the wild card in the whole ordeal. Whites with friends that are minorities who understand the statement as a mere sense of its "supposed" meaning and its social reference are alright with usage and open expression. However, if there is no just cause for the usage, then that person is all of a sudden in need of a good explanation. If a white person used it in a social term stating, "What up nigga?" to a minority, he has become a villain in that situation, worthy of nothing but a confused look, a few harsh words, and maybe a five-knuckle response to the jaw. It's how our stereotypical, discriminatory world works, right?
However, after watching the clip for a second time (And I urge you to as well), I was overcome with a feeling of humor and disbelief.
After a second time, you realize how rediculous this word has become. It has developed a form of double standard. A creation formed where whites are excluded from the use of the word for revenge of their use of the "er" ending word used 40-50 years ago.
The word "nigger" is so defaming of a word, of a thought, the thought of typing it makes one cringe. Nonetheless, if we as African-Americans feel this way, then why create a modification of the word in light of it's original meaning? Would the Jewish community come up with a modified term from the holocaust? Would people of Latin decent create an alteration to racial slurs that plague their heritage?
No. Not a chance.
However, I do understand the other side of this situation. The word can also be seen as a symbol of brotherhood, a word used for fraternizing. There has been an evolution of the word, and, yes, African-Americans should be proud of how far they have come. I am proud of how far we've come.
On the other hand, if we continue to keep it an issue of seperation, rather than togetherness, then how far have we truly come? If the word "nigga" is used as we say it its supposed to be, rather than a term conflicted with racial guidelines, then what is the point? If African-Americans, Joe and Jeff can say "nigga" to each other as freely and as much as they want, and Joe can't recieve the message from a white person, then what good is the term? It becomes a mere smoke screen. It eliminates the evolution and solidfies its ignorance. Under these terms, the word "nigga" is by no means better than the word "nigger".
However, if we are willing to truly evolve, the way we say we have as a race, as a community, as a people, then we must truly allow the unversal use of this term. Tupac Shakur, one of the so-called, pioneers of the term, orignally meant for a positive meaning. As he defined the acronym N.I.G.G.A. as "Never Ignorant Getting Goals Accomplished". By doing so, we evolve ourselves, this nation, and the dream of Reverend Dr. Marting Luther King Jr.
"The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back."
-Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Huh? Come again?
Yeah, that's right, "What up nigga?"
That statement alone has caused you, the reader, into a social shift into acceptance, defiance, a feeling of uncomfortableness, and other mixed bags of emotions. Nonetheless, whatever it may be, that very word, whether used in a greeting, statement or salutation, causes an uneasiness in relationships, and social well-being.
However, it is a word that is used commonly in today's society. It's a word similar to the racial slur and hateful word of "nigger" which is used amongst friends, family, and confidants. It is practiced amongst many, as it is part of the hip-culture which embodies what America is today. It's use, as common as "dude, and "son" leaves the mouths of many youth today. Afterall, it's a universal term right?
Wrong.
It seems the word has taken on a meaning that is exclusively for minorities, specifically, the African-American race. Whites are subjected to not using it due to fear of response from these groups, or that it's suffix of "a" may be misinterpreted for the eye brow raising "er".
Before reading any further, take a look at a video about a misinterpretation of the "N" word and how a simple suffix can seperate its meanings.
Here it is...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-gIErIg5kI
After watching the clip once, I thought...
Would a white person dare use the supposed "social friendly" term? They are indeed the wild card in the whole ordeal. Whites with friends that are minorities who understand the statement as a mere sense of its "supposed" meaning and its social reference are alright with usage and open expression. However, if there is no just cause for the usage, then that person is all of a sudden in need of a good explanation. If a white person used it in a social term stating, "What up nigga?" to a minority, he has become a villain in that situation, worthy of nothing but a confused look, a few harsh words, and maybe a five-knuckle response to the jaw. It's how our stereotypical, discriminatory world works, right?
However, after watching the clip for a second time (And I urge you to as well), I was overcome with a feeling of humor and disbelief.
After a second time, you realize how rediculous this word has become. It has developed a form of double standard. A creation formed where whites are excluded from the use of the word for revenge of their use of the "er" ending word used 40-50 years ago.
The word "nigger" is so defaming of a word, of a thought, the thought of typing it makes one cringe. Nonetheless, if we as African-Americans feel this way, then why create a modification of the word in light of it's original meaning? Would the Jewish community come up with a modified term from the holocaust? Would people of Latin decent create an alteration to racial slurs that plague their heritage?
No. Not a chance.
However, I do understand the other side of this situation. The word can also be seen as a symbol of brotherhood, a word used for fraternizing. There has been an evolution of the word, and, yes, African-Americans should be proud of how far they have come. I am proud of how far we've come.
On the other hand, if we continue to keep it an issue of seperation, rather than togetherness, then how far have we truly come? If the word "nigga" is used as we say it its supposed to be, rather than a term conflicted with racial guidelines, then what is the point? If African-Americans, Joe and Jeff can say "nigga" to each other as freely and as much as they want, and Joe can't recieve the message from a white person, then what good is the term? It becomes a mere smoke screen. It eliminates the evolution and solidfies its ignorance. Under these terms, the word "nigga" is by no means better than the word "nigger".
However, if we are willing to truly evolve, the way we say we have as a race, as a community, as a people, then we must truly allow the unversal use of this term. Tupac Shakur, one of the so-called, pioneers of the term, orignally meant for a positive meaning. As he defined the acronym N.I.G.G.A. as "Never Ignorant Getting Goals Accomplished". By doing so, we evolve ourselves, this nation, and the dream of Reverend Dr. Marting Luther King Jr.
"The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back."
-Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Keep evolving. Keep the dream alive.